On the Back Porch
The 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B
What We Celebrate
Again our gospel is from the earliest part of the Gospel of Mark. In the previous Sunday’s gospel Jesus has cured Peter’s mother-in-law and healed all who came to him. In this gospel account Jesus is approached by a leper that asks to be cured. “Moved with pity…” Jesus touches the man and heals him of his leprosy. But then as quickly sternly warns the man to not tell anyone but immediately go to the priests (in Jerusalem), tell what happened as “proof for them.” Why the stern admonition and tone? Proof of what? All that and the man basically ignores Jesus. We are never told if he goes to Jerusalem but we know he tells everyone what has happened.
There is a lot more to this gospel. Sit with it for a moment on the back porch.
Full Text of the Sunday Readings
Detailed Commentary on the Gospel
Image credit: 12th-13th century Mosaic | Cathedral of the Assumption, Monreale, Sicily | PS-US
Holiness
Underlying the story of Jesus and the leper is the idea of holiness and purity. The Book of Leviticus, which outlines the steps necessary for a leper to be declared not long unclean, but in fact “pure” is the background for our gospel story. Being unclean does not mean to have sinned, but being unclean does not mean you are ready to be in the presence of God. What are we to make of Jesus reaching out to touch the leper? Or later on to reach out and touch a dead person, both things noted that will make one impure?
Take a moment to watch this 6-minute video on Holiness.